William Comfort Hayden

William Comfort Hayden, known as Bill to most, died peacefully on October 19, 2020, at the age of 91.  He was born on August 7, 1929 in Tecumseh, Michigan to Perry and Elizabeth Comfort Hayden.

He was well known in high school for running track and winning awards on the state level. He was also senior class president.

He attended Kansas State University, Taylor University and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics with a plan to take over the Hayden Flour Mill which had been in the family for 3 generations.

After being in the Army in the Counter Intelligence Corps he settled in Tecumseh.  Finding the mill to not be a good fit for him he pursued other lines of work and found his niche in the insurance industry in which he worked for over 40 years specializing in life and benefits products.  Most of that time he was a partner at Dunlop, Onderdonk and Wilson Agency (DOW) in Wayne, NJ. He held the insurance designations of CLU and CHFC. He also was a life and qualifying member of the Million Dollar Life Insurance Round Table.

He participated in several work-related organizations like the National Association of Life Underwriters, American Society of Financial Services, Bergen County Estate Planners Council.

During this time, he was also President of the Wayne Area Chamber of Commerce.

For 25 years he was married to Faith Dugan, had 4 children and divorced in 1977.

In 1984 he married Lenore Voorhis-Hayden and became step dad to her 3 children. They were married for 36 years.

For the last 45 years he has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Caldwell, sharing his talents as an elder, member of several committees, and chair of several stewardship drives. He and his good friend, Ray Corbin, helped start the adult bible class.  Everyone who knew him knew that his faith in God was of utmost importance to him.

He was a member of the Essex Fells Country Club for almost 50 years where he enjoyed playing golf and did win several tournaments.  He was also a past member of the Kiwanis Club of Caldwell/West Essex and the Old Guard.

He served for 17 years on the board of trustees of the Job Haines Home in Bloomfield, NJ and as president of the Parkview Chateau Condo Association. Upon retiring he volunteered at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston to visit patients on behalf of the chaplain’s office and pray with them, logging in 300 hours.

He also enjoyed traveling be it to the insurance conventions that he qualified for to Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, Canada or on other tours to Provence, France, England, Scotland and Wales or a Danube cruise from Passau to Budapest.  Bermuda was a favorite spot where he frequented many times.  He also enjoyed the family condo during many summers at Ocean Edge, Brewster on Cape Cod.

Bill is survived by his wife, Lenore, his children Dr William Hayden (Nancy) of Tenn., Debi Inch (Joel) and Nancy Hueber (Tom) of Illinois, and Barbara Wright (Chuck) of New York.

He was a much-loved stepdad to Deborah Coughlin (John) of Massachusetts, Craig Voorhis (Andrea) of New York and Kevin Voorhis (Marisa) of Rhode Island.

He is also survived by sisters Mary Jane Wells of South Carolina and Martha Woodward of Michigan and brother John Hayden (Linda) also from Michigan.

He also leaves 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by brother Joe Hayden and sister Elizabeth Sprunger. Also, by brother in-laws Kenneth Woodward and Ronald Wells.

The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the staff at The Cliffs at Eagle Rock for their continued compassionate care and support of Bill during his 5 year stay there.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, 326 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, NJ 07006 or The Cliffs at Eagle Rock, 707 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052